OES BUREAU COMMENTS ON ADDIS ABABA REO FY 2009

UNCLAS STATE 000529

SIPDIS
FOR REGIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL HUB

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: SENV TBIO EFIS XA XW ET
SUBJECT: OES BUREAU COMMENTS ON ADDIS ABABA REO FY 2009
WORKPLAN

REF: ADDIS ABABA 2714


1. Summary: The Bureau of Oceans and International
Environmental and Scientific Affairs (OES) thanks Regional
Environment, Science, Technology and Health Officer (REO),
Kirsten Bauman, Refugee and Environmental Assistant, Shawna
Hirsch, and Regional Environmental Specialist, Moges Worku,
for their participation in the recent digital video
conference on the REO workplan. REO is requested to consider
OES comments presented within this post, such as to work with
the Nile Basin Initiative to distill realistic goals and
needs particularly in up-river countries, and encourage your
support for the Partnership for Indoor Clean Air in
developing the final REO workplan. We also encourage the Hub
to look for outreach opportunities that highlight U.S.
engagement in environment, science, technology and health
issues. We see the hub work plan as a &living8 document
which provides a framework but which can and probably will be
modified during the year in order to respond to developments.
End summary.


2. Thank you for your continuing efforts to facilitate
regional environmental cooperation and for your participation
in the November 5, 2008 Digital Video Conference (DVC) on
your REO 2009 workplan. These DVC and/or conference calls
generated significant comment and involvement by OES and the
geographic bureaus. This is the second consecutive year in
which we have conducted workplan reviews by DVC and we are
very pleased with the resultant Hub)OES engagement.


3. OES understands that a strong working relationship between
Hub Officers and Washington is an important component in our
efforts to achieve our ESTH objectives. For that reason, we
are pleased that Hub Officers were able to attend a two-day
training course on the margins of the Washington
International Renewable Energy Conference (WIREC),where Hub
Officers did an outstanding job in assisting delegations from
their respective regions. We look forward to Hub Officers
participating similarly at this year,s meeting of the
Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting and hope to identify
additional opportunities to strengthen DC-Hub ties in the
future.

Summary of OES and Bureau of African Affairs comments.
-------------- --------------


4. OES/PDAS Ambassador Harnish encouraged REO,s
participation on several issues including: engaging
governments on a plan for climate change as we may see new
funding for these efforts and promoting development of
biotechnology to address food security by drawing on the
expertise of Dr. Nina Federoff, scientific advisor to the
Secretary of State. He also encouraged REO to work with the
Nile Basin Initiative to distill realistic goals and needs
particularly in up-river countries and work closely with
OES/ENV and NEA. In regards to funding small projects in your
regions, we encourage your entrepreneurial spirit to work
with regional economic missions to set aside small grants to
extend OES goals and partner with PCI and other bureaus to
assist. Finally, a potential partner for future cooperation
is OPIC (Overseas Private Investment Corporation),which is
investing in clean energy in Latin America and will probably
look to develop projects in Africa in the future.


5. OES/PA encouraged REOs to participate actively in external
outreach and to connect with PAOs at constituent posts to
engage the regional press, especially radio programming. We
also support continued ESTH reporting including sending of
photograph files of relevant projects so we can highlight
them on the OES webpage. Please note also that in coming
months, there will be extensive efforts to disseminate OES
generated public service announcements starring Jane Goodall
for public diplomacy outreach specifically in Africa. OES/PA
will be in touch to collaborate on other priority areas in
your region, including promoting the Nile Basin initiative.


6. OES/IHB encouraged external outreach especially on global
health days (IHB has a list),i.e. World Malaria or TB day.
We asked for help to promote participation in the
Ambassador,s Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene in Schools
Initiative (AWASH) which should be launched in early spring.
There is widespread interest in AWASH in posts across Africa
and your leadership is welcomed. In East Africa, we
encourage your support for the Partnership for Indoor Clean
Air Biennial Forum in Kampala this March. OES/IHB reminded
REO,s that HIV and Avian flu are not part of the IHB
portfolio.


7. OES/OMC highlighted implementation of turtle excluder
devices (TEDs) for shrimp harvesting and subsequent export to
the US and is interested in discussing further tuna licensing
schemes for marine conservation efforts.


8. OES/ENV emphasized UNEP,s work on capacity building and
technology development i.e. GRID (Global Resource Information
Database),satellite imagery, and the Atlas for Africa.
There is a broad interest in these tools to strengthen the
scientific base for policy makers.


9. OES/ENRC highlighted continued focus on the Congo Basin
Forest Partnership, Liberia Forest Initiative, CAWT, and
CITES and is particularly interested in feedback on impact of
recent ivory sales.


10. OES/STC encouraged REO,s to identify science and
technology strongholds that are open for partnerships and
science cooperation and reminded post that any requests to
USG agencies for Embassy Science Fellows must meet mission
focus especially in an environment of limited funding.


11. AF/EPS suggested using a current Jefferson Science fellow
in their office as a great resource to establish connections
with the academic network here in the US to build science and
technology capacity in Africa.

Promoting ESTH Issues
--------------

12. PA urges hubs to view external Outreach as critically
important to reach audiences and public constituencies
throughout your region. ESTH initiatives such as grants,
training, and conferences are a perfect fit for public
outreach as they are popular and positive stories for press
and outreach events. Please consult (early) with Public
Affairs Officers (PAOs) in constituent posts to share your
programs and workplan, to explore areas of possible outreach.


13. Examples of ESTH events with significant outreach
potential include the signing of Science and Technology (S&T)
agreements, the awarding of USG grants for ESTH projects, and
visits from technical agencies or high-level USG officials.
The Bureau for Public Diplomacy (and Public Affairs)
considers ESTH issues to be of great interest as a &soft8
side of USG cooperation, meaning that they are usually
non-controversial yet highly compelling stories that are very
worthy of sharing with local audiences.


14. We also encourage you to (propose) take advantage of
visitor and speaker programs on science and environment
themes, working with and through your PAO. These programs
serve Hub priorities by leveraging public diplomacy funding
and expertise to advance ESTH issues through training,
professional exchange and forums for wider dialogue. OES/PA
and post PAOs should be consulted for specific advice to
assure Hub projects get the recognition they deserve.


15. We appreciate that many of OES,s priorities and
objectives were identified as action items in your draft
workplan. These are: climate and energy strategies; natural
resource conservation, particularly logging, wildlife and
fishing issues; environmental policy such as implementing the
Paul Simon Water for the Poor Act and Free Trade Agreement
environmental work programs; oceans issues; global and
regional health problems; polar affairs, with attention to
sustainable tourism in the Arctic and Antarctic; emerging
Global Positioning System and Global Navigation Satellite
Systems issues; and science and technology partnerships,
especially with Islamic communities.


16. We continue to seek feedback from REO,s and ESTH
officers on the natural resource and environmental footprint
in your region of major emerging economies, such as China.
Your on-the-ground observations are essential to this effort.


17. We expect climate change to be a top outreach priority
for ESTH officers, particularly in the lead up to the
December, 2009 United Nations Framework Convention,s
Fifteenth Conference of the Parties (COP15) meeting in
Copenhagen, which is anticipated to reflect the conclusion of
a two year process laid out in the Bali Action Plan at COP13.
As the new administration works with the Congress to develop
its climate policy, we will continue to provide information
to ESTH officers accordingly. We also encourage posts to
pursue greening activities using the &Green Guide for
Embassy and Consulate Operations,8 found at:
http://obo.state.gov/greenpage/guide/.


18. Again, thank you for your continuing efforts to build
regional environmental cooperation and for considering our
feedback as the workplan evolves over the course of the year.
Please do not hesitate to contact Matthew Gerdin with
OES/PCI at (202) 647-4347 or GerdinMJ@state.gov with any
questions or comments.
RICE